"Unusual Spellings of Baby Names Out of Control"

**Arimeh** · July 7th, 2009, 11:27 AM

PS - Arimeh-Mel, how do you pronounce your daughters name? I've never seen it before.

Meh-kel-tee

We tried to spell it phonetically.. LOL

**satya** · July 7th, 2009, 11:48 AM

I'm not into unusual spellings myself but I don't think it's out of control. I think for a while there it was very popular but lately we seem to be seeing a huge swing back to "old fashioned" names which are now becoming popular again.

**Astrid** · July 7th, 2009, 12:04 PM

I am not a fan of made up spellings, but I do like going back in history for varients of a name. I have to admit yes, I do think it is getting out of control and have thought that for ages.

I find the internet is not a good place for looking up spellings of a name, especially the baby name sites that allow member to update meanings/history etc, some are just plain wrong. I just would not trust some of them with the background of names, well saying that I did not even trust most baby name books. I found the Prenguin Dictionary of first names and found it met my needs for historical accuracy.

**~Kim~** · July 7th, 2009, 12:04 PM

I have to say that I'm surprised at the poll results - seeing aas the practce seems so common ATM, though that could just be the audience of the paper too.
BW I've only got 3 letters too, no middle name and people still seem to want to put their own creative spin on it, like being creative is so prevalent that everyone must have one....not me.

**Doing my best** · July 7th, 2009, 12:33 PM

I am not against different spellings of names, as many of them do have a meaning behind them (take Maz's and Sarah's children just as examples). They may seem creative, but when you get the history, it seems the modern way, or our language are the creative versions.

Suppose my biggest frustration is people spelling or pronouncing a name wrong after being told the correct way. I worked with an Irish girl named Niamh (pronounced Neeve in case you didn't know). The amount of people who called her "Nim" after seeing it spelt or emailed 'Neeve' after hearing the pronounciation even after being corrected was unbelievable..

My DD's name is Kimberley, however even after 19 months of me correcting the inlaws they insist on spelling in Kimberly. I also have a friend who spells it Kymberley and both these annoy me to the end of the earth cause they know better! I am ok with both these spellings, but not for my DD cause it isn't her name!

**boomba** · July 7th, 2009, 12:43 PM

I dont realy care how people spell their kids name its totally up to them. I do prefer traditional spelling.

Owning a bakery we see heaps of different spelling and poor Dh has to write it on the cakes! He stresses o much cause if he gets it wrong its ruined. So he has to keep checking as he spells it! So I suppose thats kinda annoying?

**Roryrory** · July 7th, 2009, 12:45 PM

My issue with unusual spelling is this - there are a lot of snobs out there who are going to think if you have an unusual spelling to your name, they can assume a whole lot of things about you as a person (from the viewpoint of socio-economic status, education levels, etc).

**Arimeh** · July 7th, 2009, 12:48 PM

Rory - thats probably very accurate. Unfortunately. My poor kids.. bwahahaha

Just for the record though - we slightly changed the original spelling of Aricyn (original spelling is Aricin - its scandinavian) because we didn't like the way it looked.

And Mehkelti - well yeah we did sorta make that up. LOL

**Bathsheba** · July 7th, 2009, 12:52 PM

I know what you mean Rory... and tend to agree.

Regarding the newspaper readership (Herald Sun) I too am surprised that it's 91% against the current trends... demographics would indicate to me that the average Sun reader is probably more likely to be part of the "out of control" group. Hope this doesn't miff any Sun fans.

It would be interesting to see how The Age or The Australian readership polled. My guess is that their more conservative readers would be even closer to 100% in saying "Yes".

The Sun is good for sport... that's why I read it mainly... DH brings home both the Sun and The Age daily.

***TripleJ*** · July 7th, 2009, 12:59 PM

its funny coz i like unusual spelling but my son has a very traditional name james but only because he was named after someone i really like vyolett (maz

)as a spelling coz it looks pretty and its still spelt like its said and i also like jaxon which is a bit out there i think the issue is the frustration ppl have when they have to constantly spell their name for ppl hence the poll results

**expat** · July 8th, 2009, 07:06 PM

My issue with unusual spelling is this - there are a lot of snobs out there who are going to think if you have an unusual spelling to your name, they can assume a whole lot of things about you as a person (from the viewpoint of socio-economic status, education levels, etc).

Sorry Roryrory, I have to agree with you for the wrong reasons! You can count me in as one of the 'snobs'! Having a fairly broad range of experiences to draw from, I feel in a large percentage of cases it is quite possible to make a number of educated assumptions about a individual's socio-economic roots from the name they were given.

As a poster made an example of earlier, there's Kimmie's 'Eppohnee-Reigh' or however the hell it got butchered off as a caricature of a certain wedge of society. Another poster suggested that the results might be a little different depending on if you polled The Age readers -vs- Herald Sun readers. I couldn't agree more. Perhaps a sample of names from more affluent suburbs -vs- more rough suburbs might give a similar result.

I love 'exotic' names, don't get me wrong - there are so many beautiful names out there and how boring would life be if we were all Toms, Janes and Sarahs? My annoyance is with a 'normal' name, taken and twisted and having letters added and taken away, until it barely resembles the original name. Mum and dad might think it's 'unique', 'individual' and will give their child a sense of originality, but speaking from experience, it just makes life bleeding difficult and becomes a burden.
That said, each to their own. I'm sure there are people out there who think 'Hayley Nicole' and 'Emily Paige' are boring and old-fashioned and would be better if I'd 'livened them up' by spelling them 'Heyleigh' and 'Emmie-Lea', but I just feel like it makes life a lot easier to have traditional spellings and if it saves them the misery and taunting I went through as a kid (and the constant irritation of having to correct important documents as an adult), then I'm happy.
My 'trick' to choosing baby names is to imagine it on an elderly person, a preschooler, and at the top of a resume from the perspective of a conservative (usually middle-aged male) employer. If it fits all three, it's a keeper. If not... back to the drawing board lol.

Could not agree with you more! We thought about how Logan would sound as a little boy's name and a grown-up professional name and liked it both ways. We also wanted a name that everyone could pronounce and spell. My husband is Danish, I'm Aussie of Italian background, we were living in Sweden when he was born and now we live in Hong Kong ...so we named him after 'Wolverine' from X-men because we're both big fans!

Maz and Skye - I also have to join the group disagreeing with you. I feel (and this is my opinion which I am entitled to seeing this is a thread about opinions) that people giving their children unusual names to somehow make their children more different or special says less about the individual merits of the child and more about the parents' perception of themselves as 'common' or 'ordinary' and needing to pretend their child is something better or more interesting. Why not let the child be known for his or her own talent or attribute than as 'the kid with the bizarre name'?

David Beckhamm wouldn't have been a better footballer had he been named 'Daywidgh' -We'd concentrate less on his talent and more on his odd name.

Lady Zaidie, I peed my pants over "Seaufeighya" for Sophia!! Good one!

Among my recently delivered friends, we have Agnes (Aggie), Emma, Harold (Harry), Ryan, Kate, Caroline and come to think of it...not one ******, ***********, ********-***, ****** or ******-****** (all omitted to save feelings!). Perhaps it says a lot for the social circles I travel in. I won't make any apologies for it.

**sas85** · July 8th, 2009, 07:43 PM

[QUOTE=expat;1877885]Sorry Roryrory, I have to agree with you for the wrong reasons! You can count me in as one of the 'snobs'! Having a fairly broad range of experiences to draw from, I feel in a large percentage of cases it is quite possible to make a number of educated assumptions about a individual's socio-economic roots from the name they were given.

As a poster made an example of earlier, there's Kimmie's 'Eppohnee-Reigh' or however the hell it got butchered off as a caricature of a certain wedge of society. Another poster suggested that the results might be a little different depending on if you polled The Age readers -vs- Herald Sun readers. I couldn't agree more. Perhaps a sample of names from more affluent suburbs -vs- more rough suburbs might give a similar result. End quote

I agree and disagree. I think if you're totally, totally going to mess with the spelling so it doesn't even look like you have any grasp how to spell, people are going to think your parents were strange, BUT, strange comes from all walks in life, not necessarily stereo-typical wouldn't want to live in that street bogans (like Kath & Kim) for eg.. Ie - If I came across a Prince Michael or a Fifi-Trixibell I would think their parents were obviously nutcases, but then hey, they were rich celebrities. So I think the same goes with messed-up spellings - you never can tell KWIM.

Quote
Maz and Skye - I also have to join the group disagreeing with you. I feel (and this is my opinion which I am entitled to seeing this is a thread about opinions) that people giving their children unusual names to somehow make their children more different or special says less about the individual merits of the child and more about the parents' perception of themselves as 'common' or 'ordinary' and needing to pretend their child is something better or more interesting. Why not let the child be known for his or her own talent or attribute than as 'the kid with the bizarre name'? End quote

Ouch. Well, I'm going to play the ' I sure as hell hated having 1 in 10 girls I seem to meet through life with the same name as me card', so I can totally understand why some people prefer to give their kids unique names. In one group I am known as Sarah #2. I may not personally want to name any kids say Nebuchadnezzar-spartacus myself, but everyone would know who they were if their name came up on your mobile phone without wondering which of a possible 5 it could be.

PS - I don't know why my quoting got so messed up in reply.

**Arimeh** · July 8th, 2009, 07:56 PM

I feel (and this is my opinion which I am entitled to seeing this is a thread about opinions) that people giving their children unusual names to somehow make their children more different or special says less about the individual merits of the child and more about the parents' perception of themselves as 'common' or 'ordinary' and needing to pretend their child is something better or more interesting. Why not let the child be known for his or her own talent or attribute than as 'the kid with the bizarre name'?

Hmm maybe its more about the fact that not everyone can like the same type of name, and I won't excuse myself for loving unique names. I don't believe that my children are more "interesting" than other children with more commonly used names, I don't generalise people for what they choose to call their children.

I chose the names because I love them. Just like I'm sure people who named their kids with more popular names chose them because they LOVE the name.

I won't apologise for people who choose to not look past the names as to what my children will become. And I'm happy to say that they will never judge a person on what their name is.

**maz** · July 8th, 2009, 08:08 PM

Maz and Skye - I also have to join the group disagreeing with you. I feel (and this is my opinion which I am entitled to seeing this is a thread about opinions) that people giving their children unusual names to somehow make their children more different or special says less about the individual merits of the child and more about the parents' perception of themselves as 'common' or 'ordinary' and needing to pretend their child is something better or more interesting. Why not let the child be known for his or her own talent or attribute than as 'the kid with the bizarre name'?

now there is disagreeing and there is putting someone, and yes you are entitled to your opinion but a bit of tack on the side would have been thoughtful

.

I for one, and I am speaking not just for myself, but Skye and all us other 'commoner's ' did not pick my children's names to pretend that my child is better then the nextgpersons child! You can not make a presumption of ANY PERSON for their choice of names.....and tell me please what talent or attribute does a new born baby have then, when they have been given their name?

please put some thought into posting your opinion.....just becuase we care to be different and give our children a different name to what you would consider normal doesnt make us dreadful people!

**~clover~** · July 8th, 2009, 08:12 PM

Maz and Skye - I also have to join the group disagreeing with you. I feel (and this is my opinion which I am entitled to seeing this is a thread about opinions) that people giving their children unusual names to somehow make their children more different or special says less about the individual merits of the child and more about the parents' perception of themselves as 'common' or 'ordinary' and needing to pretend their child is something better or more interesting. Why not let the child be known for his or her own talent or attribute than as 'the kid with the bizarre name'?

Among my recently delivered friends, we have Agnes (Aggie), Emma, Harold (Harry), Ryan, Kate, Caroline and come to think of it...not one ******, ***********, ********-***, ****** or ******-****** (all omitted to save feelings!). Perhaps it says a lot for the social circles I travel in. I won't make any apologies for it.

Ok, so because I gave my child a different spelling & think some of those names are boring I'm a lower social class to you. Fair enough, I probably am.
But did you ever stop to consider that I do think my child is more special than yours? She's my child, it comes with being a parent. A mother. I named her the way I did because she is different to every other child out there. I know she's no better, & I also never thought a name would change who she actually is.
Jazmyne is Jazmyne, no matter the spelling I personally like the way it looks. Sorry if that means I'm not up to everyone elses standards socially.

Ya git dat!

**Marlene** · July 8th, 2009, 11:08 PM

Perhaps a sample of names from more affluent suburbs -vs- more rough suburbs might give a similar result.

WOAH!!! So if it's not an affluent suburb it's rough???

Among my recently delivered friends, we have Agnes (Aggie), Emma, Harold (Harry), Ryan, Kate, Caroline and come to think of it...not one ******, ***********, ********-***, ****** or ******-****** (all omitted to save feelings!). Perhaps it says a lot for the social circles I travel in. I won't make any apologies for it.

I have an Ashleigh, Sarah, Mitchell and Jack...all very "ordinary" names. I certainly don't come from an affluent area, and obviously don't travel in your type of "social circles" and I think I just may be very happy about that!

**Anila** · July 7th, 2009, 12:47 PM

Also meant to add that I have an interest in numerology and can kind of understand making small changes so that a child is given a name with a number combination that is more fortuitous.

I have a thing for odd numbers,(ocd a little) so all my childrens first names add up to odd numbers, for this reason i have altered the spelling of two names, but they are still realistic spellings and not way out there, and i wasnt trying to be "creative" either.

I do have to spell out the names occasionally, because there are quite a few diffent ways to spell them. That being said, i also found the spelling for them in a baby book, so someone before me, has also thought of that spelling.